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As mothers, grandmothers, aunts and friends of children who play sports, we have first-hand knowledge that physical injuries are becoming increasingly common. I’m not talking about the broken bone from falling off a bicycle, or the sprained ankle from an informal game of kickball in the backyard; these are a normal part of growing up.

The injuries I’m referring to are happening primarily during organized sports, and are similar to the ones suffered by professional athletes. Muscle and ligament sprains and strains, bone fractures and repetitive motion injuries comprise the majority of the injuries befalling the almost 2 million children between the ages of 5 and 21 who are treated at emergency rooms, outpatient clinics and doctor’s offices each year for athletic mishaps.

Although most of these injuries are treatable and have a happy ending with full recovery, an alarming number are recurring or more serious.

One injury that is rising at an alarming rate, and carries long-term and far-reaching consequences, is the concussion.

What's a Concussion, and Why Are There More of Them Now?

A concussion is a brain injury that occurs when a blow to the head causes the brain to spin in the opposite direction from where the head was struck. Doctors call this a “rapid rotational acceleration of the brain.” Players with concussion may feel dizzy, have headaches and vision problems, experience nausea, or need to vomit.

We hear about concussions among football and hockey players, and athletes who participate in extreme individual sports like snowboarding, but many sports traditionally considered “safe,” like gymnastics, softball, and even swimming — where participants can get hit by a flying object or bump into something hard like a wall, floor, or other player — carry risk of concussion as well. It is estimated that almost half of reported concussions in children 18 and under occur in the 12-15 age group.

Even though we know from statistics that concussions are increasing in incidence, the jury is out on how many really occur each year. This is largely because coaches, parents and players are not sufficiently trained to recognize the symptoms of a concussion.

What’s worse, some athletes may fail to report symptoms, or pretend they are not hurt so they can stay in the game. It is generally believed that many avoidable concussions happen during practice, when players feel less vulnerable and wear less protective gear.

Which Sports Are Riskiest for Kids?

Football. The game accounts for the majority of team sport-related concussions. Helmet-to-helmet hits, blows to the head from opponents and hard falls to the turf are a few ways that players sustain a concussion while playing football.

Ice Hockey. Collisions with other players, a stick to the head, falls to the ice and hard contact with the boards around the rink may cause concussions. Almost one-third of all hockey injuries are concussions.

Baseball and Softball. Concussions may result when players collide with other players, run into fences and backstops or are hit by a ball or bat.

Basketball. Falling and hitting your head on the floor or being hit in the head by an opponent may cause a concussion.

Soccer. Head injuries may be caused by falls or player-to-player contact. “Heading” the ball is not considered dangerous, but improper technique may lead to injury, particularly in young players.

Lacrosse. Falling to the ground, getting hit by the ball and collisions with other players may result in head injuries.

Skiing and Snowboarding. About 20 percent of skiing and snowboarding injuries are head injuries. Hard falls and collisions with trees, signs and other skiers may lead to concussions.

Cheerleading. Increasingly daredevilish stunts like tossing a cheerleader into the air have led to an increase in cheerleading concussions.

Bicycling Serious head injuries can occur when cyclists collide or fall off their bikes.

Rules: Following the rules of the game and learning how to hit and tackle in the appropriate fashion can reduce concussion risk. Warnings and sanctions against overly aggressive or “dirty” play should be reinforced by coaches, captains and parents. Athletes health and safety should come before winning.

Training: A good way to reduce the risk of concussion is to strengthen the neck and shoulder muscles. Strength training that focuses on these areas can help the body absorb the shock of a blow to the head.

How to Recognize a Concussion

Players who are suspected of sustaining a concussion should be removed from the game or field and medically evaluated immediately. A player should only be allowed to return to their sport when a medical professional determines that he or she has completely recovered. If a player keeps playing the game with a concussion, risk of brain hemorrhage, swelling and other long-term problems increases.

Dizziness, headaches and nausea are common concussion symptoms. If a player is struck in the head or there is concern about a concussion, the athlete should be monitored closely by parents for at least 24 hours after the incident.

Repeated Concussions

Studies have shown that players who suffer one concussion have a greater chance of sustaining another. The reason for the increased risk is not known, but researchers suggest that some people may be born with a vulnerability for brain injury or that a concussion may cause changes in the brain that increase future risk. Others believe increased risk of concussion is simply a matter of increased playing time or the result of risky and aggressive playing style. It is very clear, however, that over time athletes who have sustained several concussions can experience memory loss and decline in their ability to think, concentrate and reason.

Testing

Many sports leagues and organizations require players to undergo baseline neurocognitive testing measuring memory, decision-making, and reaction times before they can participate. Baseline tests are compared to tests performed after a suspected concussion to assist athletic trainers, neuropsychologists and doctors in determining when players who have sustained concussions are ready to safely return to the game. No athlete should be allowed to resume play until all symptoms are gone.

Last Updated:3/13/2014

Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health. See More

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